Sierra Leone
Prosthetic Care:
In 2005, Prosthetics Outreach Foundation launched a program in the West African nation of Sierra Leone, a nation recovering from an 11 year civil war. Working with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, POF has assisted with:
- Establishment of a prosthetics center, named the Kendall Barker Clinical Rehabilitation Building in 2009, as part of the Makeni Government Hospital.
- Prosthetics and orthotic service availability to people in the northern provinces through mobile outreach and walk-in services.
- Local component manufacturing, including feet and limbs.
- Hiring of local staff, some of whom are amputees, including an experienced prosthetist and a prosthetic technologist.
- Ongoing training of medical professionals.
POF and the Makeni Government Hospital continue to invest in the sustainability of critical services and rebuild people’s lives.
Clubfoot Care:
In 2012 and 2010, POF held national clubfoot training seminars in Makeni that brought together medical teams from throughout the country. For the trainings, POF partners with CURE International to provide clinical expertise and materials. The medical professionals are instructed in the Ponseti clubfoot treatment method, and have the opportunity to apply their skills through hands-on practicums. With POF’s assistance, three regional Ponseti treatment centers have been established in addition to the one in Makeni.
